1So put away all malice and all deceit, all pretending, all envy, and all evil speaking.
2Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow by it.
3For you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4Come to him. He is a living stone. People refused him, but God chose him, and he is precious.
5You also are living stones. You are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices that please God through Jesus Christ.
6For this is what the scripture says: "Look, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, chosen and precious. Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
7So to you who believe, he is precious. But to those who will not obey, "The stone that the builders refused has become the head of the corner,"
8and, "a stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that trips them up." They stumble because they will not obey the word, and this was what they were appointed to.
9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who belong to God. You are to tell out the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11Dear friends, you are strangers and travellers here, and I beg you: keep away from the desires of the flesh, which make war against the soul.
12Let your conduct among the Gentiles be honest. Then, though they speak against you as evildoers, they will see your good works and will glorify God on the day he comes to them.
13For the Lord's sake, obey every human authority: whether the king, who is highest,
14or governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do well.
15For this is what God wants: that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish people.
16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover for doing wrong. Live as the servants of God.
17Honour everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honour the king.
18Servants, be under your masters with all respect. Do this not only for masters who are good and gentle, but also for those who are harsh.
19For this deserves thanks: when someone bears pain because of his conscience toward God, suffering when he has done no wrong.
20What glory is there if you are beaten for your own faults and you take it patiently? But if you do good, and suffer for it, and take it patiently, this pleases God.
21This is what you were called to. For Christ also suffered for us, and left us an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
22He did no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
23When people insulted him, he did not insult them back. When he suffered, he did not threaten. Instead he put himself in the hands of the One who judges righteously.
24He himself carried our sins in his own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.
25For you were like sheep wandering away. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.